Method and apparatus for recording/reproducing or producing a waveform using time position information

Abstract

Partial waveform data representative of a waveform shape variation are extracted from supplied waveform data, and the extracted partial waveform data are stored along with time position information indicative of their respective time positions. In reproduction, the partial waveform data and time position information are read out, then the partial waveform data are arranged on the time axis in accordance with the time position information, and a waveform is produced on the basis of the waveform data arranged on the time axis. In another implementation, sets of sample identification information and time position information are obtained in accordance with a performance tone waveform to be reproduced, and sample data are obtained from a database in accordance with the sample identification information. The thus-obtained sample data are arranged on the time axis in accordance with the time position information, and the desired waveform is produced on the basis of the sample data arranged on the time axis. The time position information and/or sample data may be adjusted in accordance with predetermined adjustment information.

1. A waveform recording method comprising the steps of:
 supplying waveform data;  
 extracting, from the waveform data supplied by said step of supplying, sample data of a timbre factor indicative of a waveform shape;  
 storing, into a memory, the sample data of the timbre factor, extracted by said step of extracting, along with first time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the timbre factor;  
 extracting, from the supplied waveform data, sample data of a pitch factor indicative of a pitch characteristic or sample data of an amplitude factor indicative of an amplitude characteristic; and  
 storing, into the memory, the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor, extracted by said step of extracting, along with second time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor.  
 
   
   
     2. A waveform recording apparatus comprising:
 a memory;  
 a processor coupled with said memory and adapted to:  
 receive waveform data;  
 extract, from the received waveform data, sample data of a timbre factor indicative of a waveform shape;  
 store, into a memory, the extracted sample data of the timbre factor along with first time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the timbre factor;  
 extract, from the received waveform data, sample data of a pitch factor indicative of a pitch characteristic or sample data of an amplitude factor indicative of an amplitude characteristic; and  
 storing, into the memory, the extracted sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor along with second time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor.  
 
   
   
     3. A machine-readable storage medium containing a group of instructions to cause said machine to implement a method of storing waveform data into a memory, said method comprising the steps of:
 supplying waveform data;  
 extracting, from the supplied waveform data, sample data of a pitch factor indicative of a pitch characteristic or sample data of an amplitude factor indicative of an amplitude characteristic; and  
 storing, into the memory, the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor, extracted by said step of extracting, along with second time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor.  
 
   
   
     4. A method of reproducing a waveform using data stored in a memory, said memory storing sample data of a timbre factor extracted from waveform data, first time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the timbre factor, sample data of a pitch factor or amplitude factor, and second time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor, said method comprising the steps of:
 giving a waveform reproduction instruction;  
 in response to the received waveform reproduction instruction, reading out, from said memory, the sample data of the timbre factor and said first time position information corresponding to the sample data of the timbre factor, and the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor and said second time position information corresponding to the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor;  
 arranging the sample data of the timbre factor on the time axis in accordance with the read-out first time position information, and produce a waveform of the timbre factor on the basis of the arranged sample data of the timbre factor;  
 arranging the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor on the time axis in accordance with the read-out second time position information, and producing a pitch waveform or amplitude waveform on the basis of the arranged sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor; and  
 controlling a pitch or amplitude of the produced waveform of the timbre factor on the basis of the produced pitch waveform or amplitude waveform.  
 
   
   
     5. A waveform reproducing apparatus comprising:
 a memory storing sample data of a timbre factor extracted from waveform data, first time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the timbre factor, sample data of a pitch factor or amplitude factor, and second time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor; and  
 a processor coupled with said memory and adapted to:  
 receive a waveform reproduction instruction;  
 in response to the received waveform reproduction instruction, read out, from said memory, the sample data of the timbre factor and said first time position information corresponding to the sample data of the timbre factor, and the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor and said second time position information corresponding to the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor;  
 arrange the sample data of the timbre factor on the time axis in accordance with the read-out first time position information, and produce a waveform of the timbre factor on the basis of the arranged sample data of the timbre factor;  
 arrange the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor on the time axis in accordance with the read-out second time position information, and produce a pitch waveform or amplitude waveform on the basis of the arranged sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor; and  
 control a pitch or amplitude of the produced waveform of the timbre factor on the basis of the produced pitch waveform or amplitude waveform.  
 
   
   
     6. A machine-readable storage medium containing a group of instructions to cause said machine to implement a method of reproducing a waveform using data stored in a memory, said memory storing sample data of a timbre factor extracted from waveform data, first time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the timbre factor, sample data of a pitch factor or amplitude factor, and second time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a waveform reproduction instruction;  
 in response to the received waveform reproduction instruction, reading out, from said memory, the sample data of the timbre factor and said first time position information corresponding to the sample data of the timbre factor, and the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor and said second time position information corresponding to the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor;  
 arranging the sample data of the timbre factor on the time axis in accordance with the read-out first time position information, and produce a waveform of the timbre factor on the basis of the arranged sample data of the timbre factor;  
 arranging the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor on the time axis in accordance with the read-out second time position information, and producing a pitch waveform or amplitude waveform on the basis of the arranged sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor; and  
 controlling a pitch or amplitude of the produced waveform of the timbre factor on the basis of the produced pitch waveform or amplitude waveform.  
 
   
   
     7. A waveform producing method comprising the steps of:
 sequentially receiving a plurality sets of timbre-factor sample identification information indicative of sample data of a timbre factor extracted from waveform data and first time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the timbre factor;  
 sequentially receiving a plurality sets of pitch- or amplitude-factor sample identification information indicative of sample data of a pitch factor or amplitude factor extracted from the waveform data and second time position information based on an extracted position, on the time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor;  
 acquiring the sample data of the timbre factor by referring to a database on the basis of the received timbre-factor sample identification information and arranging the acquired sample data of the timbre factor on the time axis on the basis of the received first time position information; and  
 acquiring the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor by referring to the database on the basis of the received pitch- or amplitude-factor sample identification and arranging the acquired sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor on the time axis on the basis of the received second time position information,  
 wherein waveform data are generated on the basis of the arranged sample data of the timbre factor and the arranged sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor.  
 
   
   
     8. A waveform producing method as claimed in  claim 7  which further comprises a step of receiving adjustment information and wherein either the sample data of the timbre factor or the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor are adjusted in accordance with the adjustment information. 
   
   
     9. A waveform producing apparatus comprising:
 a section that sequentially receives a plurality sets of timbre-factor sample identification information indicative of sample data of a timbre factor extracted from waveform data and first time position information based on an extracted position on a time axis, of the sample data of the timbre factor;  
 a section that sequentially receives a plurality sets of pitch- or amplitude-factor sample identification information indicative of sample data of a pitch factor or amplitude factor extracted from the waveform data and second time position information based on an extracted position, on the time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor;  
 a section that acquires the sample data of the timbre factor by referring to a database on the basis of the received timbre-factor sample identification information and arranges the acquired sample data of the timbre factor on the time axis on the basis of the received first time position information; and  
 a section that acquires the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor by referring to the database on the basis of the received pitch- or amplitude-factor sample identification and arranges the acquired sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor on the time axis on the basis of the received second time position information.  
 wherein waveform data are generated on the basis of the arranged sample data of the timbre factor and the arranged sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor.  
 
   
   
     10. A waveform producing apparatus comprising:
 a database storing a plurality of sample data;  
 a processor coupled with said database and adapted to: 
 sequentially receive a plurality sets of timbre-factor sample identification information indicative of sample data of a timbre factor extracted from waveform data and first time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the timbre factor;  
 sequentially receive a plurality sets of pitch- or amplitude-factor sample identification information indicative of sample data of a pitch factor or amplitude factor extracted from the waveform data and second time position information based on an extracted position, on the time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor;  
 acquire the sample data of the timbre factor by referring to said database on the basis of the received timbre-factor sample identification information and arrange the acquired simple data of the timbre factor on the time axis on the basis of the received first time position information; and  
 acquire the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor by referring to said database on the basis of the received pitch- or amplitude-factor sample identification and arrange the acquired sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor on the time axis on the basis of the received second time position information,  
 
 wherein waveform data are generated on the basis of the arranged sample data of the timbre factor and the arranged sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor.  
 
   
   
     11. A machine-readable storage medium containing a group of instructions to cause said machine to implement a method of producing a waveform using sample data stored in a database, said method comprising the steps of:
 sequentially receiving a plurality sets of timbre-factor sample identification information indicative of sample data of a timbre factor extracted from waveform data and first time position information based on an extracted position, on a time axis, of the sample data of the timbre factor;  
 sequentially receiving a plurality sets of pitch- or amplitude-factor sample identification information indicative of sample data of a pitch factor or amplitude factor extracted from the waveform data and second time position information based on an extracted position, on the time axis, of the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor;  
 acquiring the sample data of the timbre factor by referring to a database on the basis of the received timbre-factor sample identification information and arranging the acquired sample data of the timbre factor on the time axis on the basis of the received first time position information; and  
 acquiring the sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor by referring to the database on the basis of the received pitch- or amplitude-factor sample identification and arranging the acquired sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor on the time axis on the basis of the received second time position information,  
 wherein waveform data are generated on the basis of the arranged sample data of the timbre factor and the arranged sample data of the pitch factor or amplitude factor.  
 
   
   
     12. A waveform producing method comprising the steps of:
 receiving performance data;  
 obtaining sets of sample identification information and time position information by referring to a predetermined table on the basis of the performance data received by said step of receiving;  
 adjusting the time position information obtained by said step of obtaining in accordance with the performance data;  
 obtaining sample data by referring to a database on the basis of the sample identification information received by said step of receiving;  
 arranging, on a time axis, the sample data obtained by said step of obtaining in accordance with the time position information adjusted by said step of adjusting; and  
 producing a waveform on the basis of the sample data arranged on the time axis.  
 
   
   
     13. A waveform producing apparatus comprising:
 a database storing a plurality of sample data;  
 a processor coupled with said database and adapted to:  
 receive performance data;  
 obtain sets of sample identification information and time position information by referring to a predetermined table on the basis of the received performance data;  
 adjust the obtained time position information in accordance with the performance data;  
 obtain sample data by referring to said database on the basis of the obtained sample identification information;  
 arrange, on a time axis, the obtained sample data in accordance with the adjusted time position information; and  
 produce a waveform on the basis of the sample data arranged on the time axis.  
 
   
   
     14. A machine-readable storage medium containing a group of instructions to cause said machine to implement a method of producing a waveform using sample data stored in a database, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving performance data;  
 obtaining sets of sample identification information and time position information by referring to a predetermined table on the basis of the performance data received by said step of receiving;  
 adjusting the time position information obtained by said step of obtaining in accordance with the performance data;  
 obtaining sample data by referring to said database on the basis of the sample identification information received by said step of receiving;  
 arranging, on a time axis, the sample data obtained by said step of obtaining in accordance with the time position information adjusted by said step of adjusting; and  
 producing a waveform on the basis of the sample data arranged on the time axis.  
 
   
   
     15. A waveform producing method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein a time position indicated by the acquired time position is adjusted on the basis of a time position obtained on the basis of the performance data. 
   
   
     16. A waveform producing method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein a time position indicated by the acquired time position is adjusted on the basis of a variable control factor included in the performance data. 
   
   
     17. A waveform producing method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the pitch or amplitude waveform and the timbre waveform are produced in synchronism with each other.